Aesthetic method of biological structure treatment by magnetic field

Abstract

Combined methods for treating a patient using time-varying magnetic field are described. The treatment methods combine various approaches for aesthetic treatment. The methods are focused on enhancing a visual appearance of the patient.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A device for treating muscles of a patient, comprising:
 a first applicator comprising a first a magnetic field generating device, the first magnetic field generating device comprising a first magnetic coil; 
 a second applicator comprising a second magnetic field generating device, the second magnetic field generating device comprising a second magnetic coil; 
 a first energy source connected to the first magnetic field generating device; 
 a second energy source connected to the second magnetic field generating device; 
 a first energy storage device connected to the first magnetic field generating device and configured to be charged by the first energy source; 
 a second energy storage device connected to the second magnetic field generating device and configured to be charged by the second energy source; 
 a first switching device configured to discharge the first energy storage device to the first magnetic field generating device to generate a first time-varying magnetic field; 
 a second switching device configured to discharge the second energy storage device to the second magnetic field generating device to generate a second time-varying magnetic field; 
 a control unit configured to regulate the first energy source, the second energy source, the first switching device, and the second switching device; and 
 a belt configured to couple the first applicator to a first body region of the patient and to couple the second applicator to a second body region of the patient,
 wherein the first time-varying magnetic field and the second time-varying magnetic field each comprise:
 a first plurality of magnetic pulses having a first duration and a first repetition rate; 
 a second plurality of magnetic pulses having a second duration and a second repetition rate and 
 a third plurality of magnetic pulses having a third duration and a third repetition rate,
 wherein the first pluralities of magnetic pulses of each of the first and second time-varying magnetic fields, respectively, have an incrementally increasing magnetic flux density, 
 wherein the second pluralities of magnetic pulses of each of the first and second time-varying magnetic fields, respectively, have a constant magnetic flux density, 
 wherein the third pluralities of magnetic pulses of each of the first and second time-varying magnetic fields, respectively, have an incrementally decreasing magnetic flux density, 
 wherein the first, second, and third pluralities of magnetic pulses of each of the first and second time-varying magnetic fields, respectively, comprise biphasic sinusoidal magnetic impulses, and 
 wherein each of the first, second, and third impulse durations of each of the first, second, and third pluralities of magnetic pulses of each of the first and second time-varying magnetic fields, respectively, are within a range of from 3 μs to 1 ms, and 
 
 wherein the first switching device and the second switching device are configured to synchronously discharge the first energy storage device to the first time-varying magnetic field and the second energy storage device to the second time-varying magnetic field, respectively. 
 
 
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first, second, and third repetition rates differ from one another. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first coil and the second coil each comprise a flat circular coil. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first coil has an inner radius in a range of 7% to 40% of an outer radius of the first coil, and wherein the second coil has an inner radius in a range of 7% to 40% of an outer radius of the second coil. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first applicator and the second applicator are configured to be independently positionable from one another along the belt. 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second time-varying magnetic fields further comprise a magnetic flux density in a range of 0.5 Tesla to 7 Tesla. 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a communication module connected with the control unit, the communication module configured to communicate information to a server via a datalink. 
 
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a spacer configured to space the applicator from the patient's skin during a treatment. 
 
     
     
       9. A muscle toning device, comprising:
 a first applicator comprising a first magnetic field generating coil disposed in a casing of the first applicator, wherein the first applicator is configured to be coupled to a first area of a body region; 
 a second applicator comprising a second magnetic field generating coil disposed in a casing of the second applicator, wherein the second applicator is configured to be coupled to a second area of the body region; 
 a belt configured to hold the first applicator to the first area of the body region and the second applicator to the second area of the body region during a treatment, wherein the body region comprises at least one of an abdomen or a buttocks of a patient; 
 a first energy source; 
 a first energy storage device connected to the first energy source, wherein the first energy source is configured to charge the first energy storage device; 
 a second energy source; 
 a second energy storage device connected to the second energy source, wherein the second energy source is configured to charge the second energy storage device; 
 a control unit; 
 a first switching device configured to be selectively switched by the control unit in order to discharge energy from the first energy storage device to the first magnetic field generating coil such that the first magnetic field generating coil generates a first time-varying magnetic field; and 
 a second switching device configured to be selectively switched by the control unit in order to discharge energy from a second energy storage device to the second magnetic field generating coil such that the second magnetic field generating coil generates a second time-varying magnetic field, 
 wherein each of the first and second time-varying magnetic fields comprise:
 a first train of sequential magnetic pulses lasting for a first time period and a second train of sequential magnetic pulses lasting for a second time period, 
 wherein the sequential magnetic pulses within the first train of sequential magnetic pulses have an increasing amplitude of magnetic flux density, 
 wherein the sequential magnetic pulses within the second train of sequential magnetic pulses have a constant amplitude of magnetic flux density,
 wherein each of the sequential magnetic pulses have a repetition rate in a range of 1 Hz to 300 Hz, 
 
 
 wherein each of the trains of sequential magnetic pulses are configured to be applied to muscle fibers, neuromuscular plates, or nerves innervating muscle fibers in the first area and the second area of the body region such that a series of muscle contractions are caused in the first and second areas of the body region, respectively, such that, over time, a first and a second muscle is toned, 
 wherein the first muscle is at least one of an abdominal muscle or a buttocks muscle, and 
 wherein the second muscle is at least one of an abdominal muscle or a buttocks muscle. 
 
     
     
       10. The device of  claim 9 , wherein the first and second repetition rates differ from one another. 
     
     
       11. The device of  claim 9 , wherein the first coil and the second coil each comprise a flat circular coil. 
     
     
       12. The device of  claim 9 , wherein the first coil has an inner radius in a range of 7% to 40% of an outer radius of the first coil, and wherein the second coil has an inner radius in a range of 7% to 40% of an outer radius of the second coil. 
     
     
       13. The device of  claim 9 , wherein the first applicator and the second applicator are configured to be independently positionable from one another along the belt. 
     
     
       14. The device of  claim 9 , wherein each of the first and second time-varying magnetic fields further comprise a magnetic flux density in a range of 0.5 Tesla to 7 Tesla, and an impulse duration in a range of 3 μs to 1 ms. 
     
     
       15. The device of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a communication module connected with the control unit, the communication module configured to communicate information to a server via a datalink. 
 
     
     
       16. The device of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a spacer configured to space the applicator from the patient's skin during a treatment. 
 
     
     
       17. The device of  claim 9 , wherein each of the first and second time-varying magnetic fields further comprises a third train of sequential magnetic pulses lasting for a third time period, wherein the sequential magnetic pulses within the third train of sequential magnetic pulses have a decreasing amplitude of magnetic flux density and wherein repetition rate of the third train of sequential magnetic pulses is different from said repetition rate of first and second pluralities of magnetic pulses. 
     
     
       18. A device for treating a patient, the device comprising:
 a first energy storage device; 
 a first applicator comprising a first magnetic field generating device disposed within the first applicator, wherein the first magnetic field generating device is configured to generate a first time-varying magnetic field, the first time-varying magnetic field comprising:
 a first plurality of magnetic pulses having a first magnetic flux density; 
 a second plurality of magnetic pulses having a second magnetic flux density; and 
 a third plurality of magnetic pulses having a third magnetic flux density; and 
 
 a control unit configured to control the generation of the first time-varying magnetic field such that:
 the first plurality of magnetic pulses forms one of a trapezoidal envelope, a rectangular envelope, or a triangular envelope; 
 the second plurality of magnetic pulses forms one of a trapezoidal envelope, a rectangular envelope, or a triangular envelope; and 
 the third plurality of magnetic pulses forms one of a trapezoidal envelope, a rectangular envelope, or a triangular envelope, 
 
 wherein the first applicator is configured to be positioned at a body region of the patient, wherein the body region comprises the patient's buttocks or abdomen, 
 wherein each of the first, second, and third pluralities of magnetic pulses has a repetition rate in a range of 1 to 300 Hz, 
 wherein the first, second, and third magnetic flux densities are each in a range of 0.5 to 7 Tesla, and 
 wherein the first magnetic field generating device is configured to apply the first time-varying magnetic field to muscle fibers, neuromuscular plates, or nerves innervating muscle fibers in the body region such that muscles of the body region contract. 
 
     
     
       19. The device of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the first plurality of magnetic pulses forms a triangular envelope, the second plurality of magnetic pulses forms a rectangular envelope, and the third plurality of magnetic pulses forms a triangular envelope. 
 
     
     
       20. The device of  claim 19 , wherein the control is further configured to control the generation of the time-varying magnetic field such that:
 an amplitude of the first magnetic flux density increases over a first time period; 
 an amplitude of the second magnetic flux density remains constant over a second period of time; and 
 an amplitude of the third magnetic flux density decreases over a third time period. 
 
     
     
       21. The device of  claim 20  wherein the control unit is further configured to control the generation of the time-varying magnetic field such that no magnetic pulses are generated between the first time period and the second time period and between the second time period and the third time period. 
     
     
       22. The device of  claim 18 , wherein the first applicator further comprises an electrode configured to provide a radiofrequency treatment having a frequency in a range of 500 kHz to 3 GHz. 
     
     
       23. The device of  claim 18  wherein the first plurality of magnetic pulses forms a trapezoidal envelope, the second plurality of magnetic pulses forms a trapezoidal envelope, and the third plurality of magnetic pulses forms a trapezoidal envelope. 
     
     
       24. The device of  claim 23 , wherein the control unit is further configured to control the generation of the time-varying magnetic field such that no magnetic pulses are generated for a first period of time between the first plurality of magnetic pulses and the second plurality and for a second period of time between the second plurality of magnetic pulses and the third plurality of magnetic pulses. 
     
     
       25. The device of  claim 18 , further comprising a spacer configured to space the applicator away from the patient's skin during a treatment. 
     
     
       26. The device of  claim 18 , further comprising a belt, wherein the first applicator is configured to be positionable along the belt. 
     
     
       27. The device of  claim 18 , wherein the device further comprises a second applicator comprising a second magnetic field generating device disposed within the second applicator,
 wherein the second magnetic field generating device is configured to generate a second time-varying magnetic field, the second time-varying magnetic field comprising: 
 a fourth plurality of magnetic pulses having a fourth magnetic flux density; 
 a fifth plurality of magnetic pulses having a fifth magnetic flux density; and 
 a sixth plurality of magnetic pulses having a sixth magnetic flux density; 
 wherein the control unit is further configured to control the generation of the second time-varying magnetic field such that:
 the fourth plurality of magnetic pulses forms one of a trapezoidal envelope, a rectangular envelope, or a triangular envelope; 
 the fifth plurality of magnetic pulses forms one of a trapezoidal envelope, a rectangular envelope, or a triangular envelope; and 
 the sixth plurality of magnetic pulses forms one of a trapezoidal envelope, a rectangular envelope, or a triangular envelope. 
 
 
     
     
       28. The device of  claim 27 , wherein the control unit is further configured to control the generation of the second time-varying magnetic field such that the magnetic pulses of the second time-varying magnetic field are generated synchronously with the magnetic pulses of the first time-varying magnetic field. 
     
     
       29. The device of  claim 18 , wherein the first magnetic field generating device is configured to be spaced apart from a casing of the first applicator to allow for a cooling fluid to flow between the first magnetic field generating device and the first applicator. 
     
     
       30. The device of  claim 18 , wherein the device further comprises a first connecting tube connected to the first applicator and a second connecting tube connected to the second applicator.